Egypt seeks to strengthen collaboration with UN agencies in agricultural development
Alaa Farouk, Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, met with Elena Panova, the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, to discuss expanding cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and UN agencies involved in the agricultural sector. The meeting, which was also attended by Saad Moussa, Supervisor of External Agricultural Relations, focused on exploring ways to enhance joint efforts in agricultural development.
Minister Farouk highlighted the successful and productive collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and various UN-affiliated organizations, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). These partnerships have played a vital role in supporting agricultural and rural development across Egypt and advancing food system sustainability.
The minister commended the outcomes of joint projects in Egyptian villages and agricultural sectors, emphasizing their positive impact on small-scale farmers, rural women, and youth. He expressed a strong desire to expand these collaborations further, particularly in fostering inclusive agricultural growth and promoting rural empowerment.
Farouk also underscored the importance of involving both the private sector in Egypt and across Africa to boost trade, investment, and food security on the continent. He outlined the Egyptian government’s efforts to improve the investment climate, including in agriculture, to support sustainable development.
In response, the UN Resident Coordinator detailed the UN’s cooperation framework with Egypt, which spans five key areas: climate and resource sustainability, education, health, migration, and more. This framework guides UN agencies’ actions in Egypt from 2023 to 2027. Panova expressed her commitment to strengthening cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture to promote sustainable agricultural development and food security in Egypt.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides agreed to plan ministerial-level discussions with African nations under the leadership of Egypt’s Ministry of Agriculture. These meetings will involve relevant UN agencies and private sector representatives from selected African countries. The aim is to establish new mechanisms for cooperation and encourage private sector investment, in line with Egypt’s broader efforts to foster stronger ties with African nations. Additionally, Egypt reiterated its readiness to share agricultural research expertise with African countries, with the support of UN agencies active in these regions.
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